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If you enjoy smoking herb or tobacco from a glass bong, you know how important it is to keep it clean and fresh. A dirty bong can ruin your smoking experience, making it harsh, unpleasant, and unhealthy. Not to mention, it can also damage your glass piece and make it look unsightly.
Fortunately, cleaning a glass bong is not a difficult task. You don’t need any expensive or fancy products to do it. All you need are some simple household items and a little bit of time and effort. In this blog post, we will show you how to clean a glass bong properly and safely, using different methods and ingredients. Follow these steps and you will have a sparkling and smooth bong in no time.
Why You Need to Clean Your Glass Bong
Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why. Why do you need to clean your glass bong regularly? Here are some of the benefits of keeping your bong clean:
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Better flavor.
A clean bong will allow you to enjoy the true taste and aroma of your herb or tobacco, without any interference from the tar, resin, or mold that can accumulate in a dirty bong. -
Smoother hits.
A clean bong will also provide smoother and cooler hits, reducing the irritation and coughing that can result from smoking from a dirty bong. A clean bong will also prevent any ash or debris from getting into your mouth or lungs. -
Healthier smoking.
A clean bong will also reduce the risk of inhaling harmful bacteria, fungi, or toxins that can grow in a dirty bong. These can cause infections, allergies, or other respiratory problems. A clean bong will also prevent the formation of mold, which can be dangerous for your health and your glass piece. -
Prettier appearance.
A clean bong will also look more attractive and appealing, enhancing your smoking experience and showing off your glass piece. A dirty bong can be an eyesore and a turn-off for yourself and others.
How Often You Need to Clean Your Glass Bong
Now that you know why you need to clean your glass bong, let’s talk about how often you need to do it. The answer depends on how frequently you use your bong and how dirty it gets. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should follow these guidelines:
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Change the water after every smoke session.
This is the easiest and most effective way to keep your bong clean and fresh. The water in your bong can get dirty and smelly after one use, especially if you smoke herb or tobacco with a lot of tar or resin. Changing the water will prevent the buildup of these substances in your bong and improve the flavor and smoothness of your smoke. -
Clean the slide and bowl after every few uses.
The slide and bowl are the parts of your bong that come into direct contact with your herb or tobacco. They tend to get clogged with ash and resin after a few uses, making it harder to draw smoke from your bong. Cleaning them regularly will ensure optimal airflow and performance of your bong. -
Clean the entire bong once a week or more.
Even if you change the water and clean the slide and bowl frequently, you still need to deep clean your entire bong once in a while. This will remove any stubborn tar or resin that may have stuck to the walls or corners of your glass piece. It will also sanitize your bong and eliminate any bacteria or mold that may have grown in it.
How to Clean Your Glass Bong
There are different methods to clean your glass bong, using various ingredients and tools. Some common ingredients are alcohol, salt, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. Some common tools are bottle brush, pipe cleaner, and saucepan. The basic steps are to fill the bong with the chosen ingredient, shake it, and let it soak for some time, then rinse it with warm water and dish soap. Some methods require boiling water, but this could bust the glass. Here are some of the most popular methods to clean your glass bong:
Method 1: Alcohol and Salt
This is one of the most effective and widely used methods to clean a glass bong. Alcohol reacts with the tar and resin, making it easier to remove, while salt acts as an abrasive, scrubbing away the dirt. Here’s how to do it:
- Separate all the moving pieces from the bong. This includes the slide, the bowl, and the stem. Set them aside to be cleaned separately.
- Rinse out the pieces in hot water. This will loosen up any of the bigger chunks of resin that may be clogging up your bong. The hotter the water the better, but be careful not to burn yourself or crack the glass. If your piece is cold, start with lukewarm water and slowly raise the temperature.
- Knock off any big pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners. If there are any large chunks of tar or resin that you can easily reach, simply knock them off with gentle scrubbing. If a chunk resists, that’s fine. You just want to get rid of the big, easily removed chunks now.
- Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags. Make sure that they can seal effectively. You’ll use the bag to contain your cleaning fluid while you soak the smaller pieces.
- Fill your plastic bags with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Purchase 90% isopropyl instead of 71% whenever available, though both will work. They can be found in the first aid section of your supermarket or pharmacy. Make sure the pieces are fully submerged in the fluid.
- Add some coarse salt to the bags. You can use any kind of salt, but kosher or sea salt work best because they have larger grains. The salt will act as an abrasive, helping to scrub away the resin from the pieces.
- Seal the bags and shake them vigorously for a few minutes. The alcohol and salt mixture will dissolve and dislodge the resin from the pieces. You can also let them soak for a few hours or overnight for better results.
- Pour out the alcohol/salt mixture and rinse the pieces with warm water and dish soap. Make sure no alcohol or salt are left on the pieces, as they can damage your glass or affect your smoking experience.
- Repeat steps 5-8 for the main body of your bong. You can either use a large plastic bag or a container that can fit your bong and hold enough liquid to cover it.
- Dry your bong and its parts with a clean cloth or paper towel. Make sure they are completely dry before using them again.
Method 2: Vinegar and Baking Soda
This is another common method to clean a glass bong, using natural ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen. Vinegar and baking soda create a chemical reaction that produces bubbles and fizz, helping to loosen and remove the resin from your bong. Here’s how to do it:
- Follow steps 1-3 from Method 1 to prepare your bong and its parts for cleaning.
- Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags or containers that can hold liquid.
- Fill your bags or containers with white vinegar. Make sure the pieces are fully submerged in the vinegar.
- Add some baking soda to the bags or containers. You don’t need a lot, just enough to create some bubbles and fizz.
- Seal the bags or containers and shake them gently for a few minutes. The vinegar and baking soda mixture will react and dissolve some of the resin from the pieces. You can also let them soak for a few hours or overnight for better results.
- Pour out the vinegar/baking soda mixture and rinse the pieces with warm water and dish soap. Make sure no vinegar or baking soda are left on the pieces, as they can damage your glass or affect your smoking experience.
- Repeat steps 3-6 for the main body of your bong. You can either use a large plastic bag or a container that can fit your bong and hold enough liquid to cover it.
- Dry your bong and its parts with a clean cloth or paper towel. Make sure they are completely dry before using them again.
Method 3: Lemon Juice and Boiling Water
This is another natural method to clean a glass bong, using lemon juice and boiling water. Lemon juice is acidic and helps to break down the resin, while boiling water helps to loosen and flush out the dirt. However, this method requires caution, as boiling water can crack your glass if you’re not careful. Here’s how to do it:
- Follow steps 1
